Mainz's Fernandes receives French loan-out

Twenty-eight-year-old FSV Mainz 05 professional Edimilson Fernandes is headed out on loan again. The 30-times-capped Swiss international will spend the season playing with Stade Brestois 29 in both Ligue 1 and the Champions’ League. After signing with Mainz in 2019, the versatile defensive actor has already worked loan stints with Armenia Bielefeld and Young Boys Bern. He may end up playing against Leverkusen in the UCL.

The former West Ham United player did accrue 21 league appearances under the three separate Rheinhessen trainers last season, often being asked to fill in at central defense. Fernandes garnered two league assists in his deployments. In total, he’s racked up 98 Bundesliga deployments over parts of four seasons. Fernandes joins Borussia Dortmund defensive prospect Soumaïla Coulibaly, who was also loaned out to Brest for the year.

Speaking on the deal, FSV sporting CEO Christian Heidel confirmed that Fernandes had requested the loan in the hopes of gaining more playing time. Current Mainz trainer Bo Svensson has four options for his preferred back-three. Furthermore, a glut of midfield actors left it unlikely that Fernandes could get minutes at his natural position. The new Brest man didn’t make Svensson’s match-day squad on opening day against Union Berlin.